Man sentenced to 20 years for Morristown rape

An illegal immigrant who grabbed a woman off a Morristown street and raped her was sentenced today to 20 years in state prison, 10 years less than the prosecution argued he should get.

While Joel Romero, 28, of Honduras, apologized for the July 2005 attack, the man accused of holding down the victim for him said today he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea.

"I have declared myself guilty of things I did not do," said Juan Amendano, of Ecuador.

Romero pleaded guilty in May to sexually assaulting and kidnapping the woman, now 22.

Amendano had also pleaded guilty, but today said he wanted to recant his plea. Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Falcone said he will decide in March whether to allow Amendano to withdraw the guilty plea.

Romero has agreed to testify against Amendano if the case goes to trial.

The case was handled in Paterson today because Falcone transferred there in September from the Morris County Courthouse.